Thrust-bearing.



C (LEGBERT.

THRUST BEARING. v APPLiCATlON FILED FEB. 8, m2.

Patented Mar. '14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR A'moRN'EY C. C. EGBERT.

, THRUST BEARING. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. 1912.

Patented Mar. 14,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOH 1 Arm/Mr PATENT OFFICE. I

CHARLES (5.. serum. or NIAGARA FALLS, NEW your.

'rHnusr-BEAnInG.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B1313 14, 1916-,

Application filed February 8, 1912. Serial No. 676,313.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, CHARLES citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have'invented certain new and useful. Improvementsin Tln'ustliearings, of which the following is a fulLcleaI', and exact description. My invention relates generally to thrust bearings and is particularly adapted for use in connection with machinery having vertical shafts, such as, for instance, hydraulic and steam turbine driven electric-generators, and'its connection with vertical shafts will be so described in the following description, it being, of course, obvious that my improved th rust hearing may be used on shafts working with axis inclinedany degree fromv I the vertical.

' The objects of my invention are, first to provide a thrust bearing in which the revolving load may be normally carried on a cushion of fluid under pressure, but which will not fail. to operate successfully should the fluid pressure be either purposely or accidentally cut off; second to provide a thrust bearing which will utilize fiuid under pres-- sure from the same system that is used to supp1y fluid under pressure for the operationof governors or for. other purposes which may or may not require a constant supply of fluid; third, to provide a thrust.-

bearing that will act as a relief or safety valve .on the fluid 'supplyl system used in onnection' with it; fourth to provide a thrust bearing that will not fail to operate safely and indefinitely in ,spite of certain practically unpreventable inaccuracies in workmanship and changes in shape of parts aftertheir construction'; fi ?t h to provide a thrust bearing that willsafiely operate with "minimum amou'ntof fluid' under pressure.

I. attain these objects by the mechanism which. is clearly set forth in'the accompanying drawing, in which like charactersiof reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of which z. i

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the thrust bearing. Fig. 2- isa diagrammatical view showing my hearing connected in an oil pressure system. Fig. 3 isajfr'agmental sec;- tion of a slightly modified formof thrust bearing.

- Referrlng to. Fig. 1 of theidrawing 5 is a thrust collar (which is keyed or otherwise so C. Eonnu'r, a

cured to shaft 6 so as to rotate with it. The thrust collar 5 is further secured against slid ng in axlal direction on the shaft by means of the shoulder 7 which is preferablv 18 and 14 represent respectively. the stationary and rotating disks or races, 15 the balls and 16'the cage or separator of the ball by one or more dowels 17 so that it will turn thrust hearing. The disk 14 may be secured with the thrust collar 5, and the disk 13 may i be secured by one or more dowels 18 so that it will not turn. 19 represents a shouldered ring which is secured to the inner circumference ofthe disk 13 either by screws or dowels 20. 21 represents the inner or retainer ring which is preferably made in' halves and secured to the ring 19 by means of screws 22. The-height of the ring 21 is slightly less than the diameter of the balls 15 so that it fills the space between the inner edges of the disks 13 and Has nearly as ,possible without rubbing. The ring 21 supported by'the ring 19 acts as a guide to center the cage 16, and in' addition serves to support the fluid pressure between the disks as hereinafter described. 23 represents the outer retainer ring which fits loosely about the outer circumference of the disk 11 and.

bears upward preferably against the bearing ring 24:, which is secured to the thrust collar 5 preferably by means of the screws 25. This bearing ring may, if desired, be omitted and tho outerretainei'ring 23 may be made to bear against the lower surface of the thrust collar .5. (See Fig. 3). 26 represents one of three or more bolts which are screwthreaded'into the disk 11 at points symmetrically distributed about the circumference.

Each of bolts 26 is provided with a lock nut 27. Disposed between the head of each of the bolts 26 and the under surface of the ring 23 is a spring 28. vTo the disk 11 is secured by means of a ring 29 and screws 30, a. packing ring 31 of pliable material, preferably leather, which bears against face of the ring 23. The ring 23 at the. point where the packing ring 31 ears against it,

the inner sur iisimade slightly larger in diameter than the innerdiameter of the surface which contacts v wit-h the bottom of ring 24 for purposes able manner.

ciently'flexible in its construction to permit a small upward and'down'ward movement of 1'ing 23. One or more'dowels 33, are pro hereinafter described. 32 represents.a fluid inlet pipe which? passes through the casing 10 and is secured to the ring 23 in any suit-v I The "pipe 32 ismade suifivide'dto secure the ring 23 against turning.

The .groove 34' in ring 23' into which the be made in halves the vertical shaft 32 p the fluid outlet or drain. 37 represents andowels 33 fit is proportioned toallow a small upward. and downward 23. The annular. spaces outer circumference of the thrust bearing movement of ring at the/inner. and

are .connectedtogether by means offione or more passages 35.

bearing. e j Althqugh not shown on'the drawing, all

'p'arts ofthe bearing encircling the shaft may and secured together by; -mea 1 0f bolts or they'maybe secured together by bolting to adjacent parts by methods well knowng in machine construc-* tion. should the ring '19 bemadein halves it is preferable to place the joints between 115s halves 180 degrees. from the joints between the two halves of ring 21, so that the two rings 19 and 21 secured together by the screws 22 formfa structure well able to sustain fluid pressure around it.

Referring now I of my thrust bearing-8 the base thereof; 6

the fluid inletand 36 oil pressure pump and 38 an oil reservoir.

' 39 is a governon such as is used connection with turbine water wheels and 40 the a centrifugal ball-governed valve thereof;

' Connecting the pump 37 with the inlet 32 of" the bearing is a. pipe 41. Connecting the valve 40 with the pipe 41 is a pipe 42. A supply pipe 43 connects the pump with the reservoir .38.

from the outlet or, drain 36 of the bearing and emptymg into the reservoir 38 is a pipe 44 and connecting the outlet or drain ofthe gover ior valve 40 with the said reservoir is a pipe 45.

46 is arelief valve-of any o ffthe standard types, which is placed in thepipe 41 between the inlet '32 worn the pipe 41. When the governor 39 requires amaximum amount of oil for its operation, thevalve 40 thereof: opens up full and thus decreases the pressure of the oil in the pipe lines 41 and 42 whereuponithere lief valve closes and momentarilycuts oil" the supply of oiLto the bearing. -Butwhenthe full supply of oil is partially cut oil from the governor 39 the pressure of the oil in the pipe 41 will increase until the relief valve 46 when the thrust bearing A drain. 36 is provided .for carrying oil the fluid discharge from the to Fig; 2, 10 isthe casing I inlet side 'of the Extending to hold the of the bearing and the point where thepipe 42 branchesofi restrlcting the movement it reopens will again be supplied with oiland sustained by the pressure.

avmg thus described my invention, I

will now describe its operation: Referring" to Fig. 1 of the drawings, fluid, preferably a light'lubricatingoil, is admitted under 1 pressure through the pipe 32 to the annular space confined between the disks 13 and 14.

the ring 23 and the ring 21. The springs 28 force the ring 23 upward and in contact with the ring 24, so that the surface of contact bet-Ween rings 23 and 24, together with the packing ring 31,, prevent the escape of any appreciable amount of lipid around the tacts with the bottom of thering 24. This is done in order to counterbalance the downward effect of fluid pressure acting between thesurfaces of contact of the rings 23 and 2,4, as for instance, when said surfaces are vfurnished with grooves or when there are in diameter than inequalities in the same. It is desirable to have the ring 23 balanced in respect to the upward and downward pressure of the fluid,

. but-an-appreeiable amount of excessof fluid pressure,. either upward -'or downward, will not. diminish the efficiency of the thrust bearing-because the springs 28 may be made sufficiently strong to'always force the ring upward tobe'ar against the ring24. The pressure by the s 1usted maybe locked in place by the lock against the ring ring 23 in'contact with ring 24 when there is no fluid pressure, so that the escape of fluid will be prevented when the pressure is again established. The ring 23 fits loosely enough on theouter circumference of the, disk 11 so that 'should' the pressure from the ring 24 become excessive on if the springs 28 may be regulated 'rews 26, which when finally ad-' nuts 27. The'pressure of the springs-"28 23 is made sufficiently great one side, due to wabbling of shaft caused by inaccurate workmanship or. temperature changes in the various parts of the bearing on foreign matter in the fluid, the ring 23 willbe free to move dowp wardly atpoint of pressure,the downward movementbeing opposed by the springs .28; Thecpacking ring 31 prevents the, escape of fluid between the ring 23 and the disk 11 without materially of the ring 23.

The ring 21' acts as a guide bearing to hold the cage 16 concentric with the shaft, and in' addition acts" with the ring 19 to retain the T fluid; "The jbase s the sleeve 9 and the easing 10 forrnla freceptacleto, catch the fluid dischargedufromx the bearing. This discharged 1' fluid is withdrawn" throughY'groove n 5 35 (and the opening 36, and may again be: l ra sed' in pressureby,meansof-a pump and I @again circulatedthrouglrthe bearing". '1 he ringe ro ms an easily renew-able bearlng surface foiithe ring 23, and while desirable the bearing, as ring 23 may be constructed a to bear directly against the thrustcollarfi.

. lfThefluid pI'GSSIiIG lIIMl'IhG annular space confined between the disks 1?) and 14 as ,fluid pressure, is carried on a, fluid cushion.- ;Eluidsupplied in exoessyof the amount requiredto, lift the, revolving weight is disfoharged at the inner edges of the bearing between the l diskb 14 and the; ring 21. The

,fldeviceg therefore, acts in the nature of a relief naive on the source ofsupplyl The ring 23 fleeing a freeto follow the upward move- "mentioficring 24: when the; revolving parts are raised byjhe fluid pressure, it continues to prevent the escape ffiuid at the outer 3 circumference lofrthe hearing, thus econo- 301 n iaing fluid bylforcing it to escape by Way ofthe iHD E IfOI'IShQFtBXf edge. Should the Qfluid supply, beinsufiicientto lift theentire resolving iveiglit,the portion of the Weight tisusta'ined by the ,flujidxis carried by the ball earing. Should the supply of fluid be shut- 0a or reduoedaeither purposely 01' accidentally, the ,ballqbearing willcarry the qrevolvingweightfor afconsiderable period ormomentarilyluntil the fluid pressure is i'esulnedfl y 1 heretoforefbeenecessary in maa ,jchines using a fluid pressure bearing anda aI fliiidi pressure governor to supply the same withrpressure from two individual pumps. By; the n'sehof my" bearing it is possible to qklispenseuwith one pump and touse asingle ernorand thrust bearingyas clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawingsl By this'arrangee ,inentflvhenfiuid is momentarily used by the fgovei'no-i j iip to the full capacity of the pu napj thus reducingthe pressure in the dijsk llland thrust collar made to form the ball races for theifseries of balls 15 or zylSIlOt apart essential to f theoperation of i above, set roan. tends to j raise, the weight a from the balls 115 andpart; or all of the refrolvingwveight accordingutothe amount of these disks may each be made integral with their respectiveparts; Other detailed modifications may be made from the device'herein shown and described without departing from the spirit, of my invention and I do not, wish to be limited to the exact, embodiment herein shown and described.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I elaim is:

1. In a thrust bearing the combination with a rotating shaft, a thrust collar carried by and rotatable with said shaft, a rotatable bearing disk carried by said collar, a

basesupporting said shaft, a stationary bearing disk carried by said base and'mounted opposite to said rotatable disk, a slidably mounted outerv oil retainer ring disposed about said rotating. .'and stationary disks, whereby a fluid pressure is maintained between said rotatable and stationary disks 2. In athrust bearing the combination with a rotatingshaft, a thrust collar carried by and rotatable witlwaid shaft, a rotatable disk carried by said collar, a base supporting said shaft, a stationary bearing disk carried by said base mounted opposite to said' disk, an, outer oil retainer ring disposed about said stationary and rotatable disks and a'ninner .oil retainer rin dis osed 1 between said rotatable and stationary disks, whereby 'fluid pressure is maintained between said rotatable and stationary disks.

3. A thrust bearing compnsing, a shaft. a stationary bearing disk, a thrust collar carried by and rotatable with said shaft, a, rotatable bearing disk carried by said collar, means for maintaining a fluid pressure between said disk and an anti-friction bearing disposed between the fluid pressure areas bf said disks, saidstationary and rotatable. bearin disks forming the raceway for {aid anti-friction bearing, whereby when said fluid pressure is out off, said anti-friction bearing will carry the load.

4;. In a thrust bearing, the combination of a rotating shaft, a thrust collar carried by and rotatable with said shaft a rotatable bear-mg disk carried by said collar, a stationary leveling disk disposed below said collar,'a stationary bearing disk carried by said leveling disk and mounted opposite to said rotatable disk, an outer oil retainer ring carried by said leveling disk and hearing against said thrust collar, and an antifriction bearing disposed between said stationary and rotable disk and within said -.r.etainering, whereby a fluid pressure-is maintained between said rotatable and said stationary disks.

In a thrust bearing, the combination 'of a rotating shaft, a thrust collar carried bvand rotatable with saidshaft, a rotatable disk carried by said collar, a stationary leveling disk disposed below saidcollar, a stationary disk carried by said leveling disk 4 n -r sen:v

and mounted opp'o'site' m said rotatable disk, an outer oil retainer ring carried by,

said leveling disk and bearing against said thrust collar, and an inner oil retainer ring" disposed between said rotatable and sta- -tionary, disks, whereby a fluid pressure is maintained between said rotatable and stationary disks. y

6. In a thrust bearing, the combination of a rotating shaft, a thrust collar carried 1N and rotatable with said shaft, a rotatable disk carried by said collar, a. stationary leveling disk disposed below said collar, a stationary disk carried by'said leveling 'disk and mounted opposite .to said rotatable disk, an outer oil retainer ring carried'by said leveling disk and bearing against said thrust'collar, an inner oil retainer ring dis.-'

. posed between said rotatable and stationary disks and an anti-friction bearing disposed between said' rotatable qnd stationary disks,

whereby the loadv is" carried by the said pressure is out off.

fluid pressure, which is maintained between said rotatable and stationary disks,

and by said antiiriction bearing when said 7. In a thrust bearing; the combination of a shaft, a rotatable bearing disk carried by and rotatable with said shaft, 'asta' tionary bearingdisk disposed opposite to said rotatable disk, an anti-friction bear-. ing disposed bet-ween the. flllldpressure of a rotating'shaft, a thrust collar carried by and rotatable with said shaft, a rotatable disk carried by said collar, a stationary .leveling'disk disposed belbw said collar, a-

- (lei-ed ring and an anti-frietionbearing dis- "stationary diskcarried by said; leveling disk and mounted opposite tb sa d rotatable disk, an outer ()ll retaine 'rmg carried by said leveling disk, a shoulderedring dis-' posed at the inner circulnference of- Said stationary disk, an inner 011' reta ner lll'lg dlsposed 1 between said rotatable and. stationary disks and carried by said shou lposed between said rotatable and stationary disks, wherebya fluid pressure is mam- ,talined' between said rotatable and stationary disks.

9'. In a thrust bearing,the combination of a rotating shaft, a thrust collar carried by.

and rotatable with said shaft, a rotatable disk carried by said collar, a stationary lev-.

eling disk disposed below said collar, 3. stationary disk carried by said leveling disk and, mounted opposite to said rotatable disk, an outer oil retainer rin'g'slidably carried by said leveling disk andpa-cking means disposed between said leveling disk and said retainer ring, whereby, a. fluid pressure is tionary disks.

' maintained between 'said rotatable and staby and rotatablewith, said shaft, a rotatable disk carried by said c0llar,a stationary leveling disk disposed below said collar, a stationary disk carried by said leveling'disk and mounted opposite to said rotatable-disk,

an outer oil retainer'ring'slida'blycarried by said leveling disk, packing means disposedbetween said level ng disk and saidretainer ring and adjustable tension ITIQaIJSVdiSPOSGCl beneath said're'tainer ring, whereby a fluid pressure is fmaintained between} said rotatable and saidstationary disks. 1 4

11. In a thrust bearing, the combination" of a rotating shaft, a thrust collarcarried by and rotatable with-said shaft, a rotatable disk carried by said collar,"astationary leveling disk disposed below-said collar, a stationary 'diskcarried by said leveling 'diskand mounted opposite to said rotatabledisk,

an outer oil retainer ring sl'idably carried by said leveling. disk, packin means disposed between said leveling disc and said outer -retainer ringy-an inner retainer ring disposed between said rotatable and stationary disksand an anti-friction bearing dlsposed between said rotatable and stationary disks,

whereby the load carried by the fluid pres- 7 sure which is malntained between said rotatable and stationary d1sks,and by'said anti-frictionbearing, when said fluid pres sure is cut off. r

, 12.- In a thrust bearing, the-combination, with a shaft, a base supporting said shaft, a casing and a fluid inlet and outlet; of a thrust collar carried by androtatable with 1. said shaft, a leveling disk carried by said base, a rotatable disk carried by said collar, a stationary disk. carried by said leveling disk, an outer 011 retainer rlng carried by said leveling disk and bearing against said thrust collar, an inner oil retainer ring disposed between said rotatable and stationary disks, an anti-friction bearing disposed between said rotatable and stationary" disks and means for conducting fluid under pres- 1 sure to said-outer'retainer ring and between said stationary, and ro-tatable disksl 13. In a thrust" bearing, the 'combination with a shaft,- a base supporting'said shaft,

-a casing and a fluid inlet and outletfof a 125, thrust collar carried by and rotatable with said shaft, a leveling disk carried bysaid 4 base, a rotatable disk carried by said collar, a stationary disk carried by said leveling disk, a series of ballsdisposed between 1 i 10. In a thrust bearing, the combination of a rotating shaft,-'a thrust collar -=ca rried 75 i rotatable and stationary disks, an'outer oil retainer ring carried by saidleveling disk and bearing ag'aiilst said collar, adjustable tension means disposed beneath said outer retainer ring, means forconveying fluid under pressure to said outer retainer ring,

and between said rotatable and stationary disks, an inner oil retainerrmg disposed between said rotatable and stationary disks,

said inner retainer ring being slightly less in height than the diaineterof said balls,

I whereby the shaft is normally supported by the fluid under pressure, theexcess fluid being carried oil by the space between-said rotatable disk and said inner oil retainer ring.

-' 14. In a thrust bearing, the combination with a shaft,fa base supporting said shaft,

' a casing and a fluid inlet and outlet; of a I thrust collar carried by and rotatable With said shaft,-a leveling disk carried by said base,"an outer oil retainer ring carried by said leveling disk and bearingagainst said thrust collar, an inner oil retainerring disposed between said rotatable and stationary disks, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and carried bysaid leveling disk said sleeve ex tending upwardly to substantially the center'ofsaid rotatable disk, an anti-friction bearing disposedbetweensaid rotatable and 3 stationary disks and means for conducting fluid" under pressure to said outer retainer ring and between said rotatable and stationary disks. t I

15. In a thrust bearing, the combination with a shaft, a base supporting said shaft, a casing and a fluid inlet and outlet; of a thrust collar carried by and rotatable with said shaft, a leveling disk carried by said outer ring being provided. at its upper end with an inwardly projecting shoulder and means for conveying fluid under pressure to said said outer ringand between said rotatable and stationary disks, whereby the said outer ring is balanced and the fluid under pressure prevented from escaping between saidouter ring and said eollar.

- In testimonyfwhereof, I hereunto signed 55 i m name in the presence of,two subseri witnesses. I a

Witnesses: v J. WM. Ems, WALTER IL KELLEY- v ionaa ins'e nesnnr; 

